Excerpted from Forgiveness: The Impossible Possibility The challenge to maintain biblical forgiveness will be waged in the minds of those who grant forgiveness. The three major tests in this regard are Memory, Reminder, and Imagination (M.R.I.) Memories related to forgiven sins can resurface and be significant hindrances for believers to maintain biblical forgiveness. These memories often focus on painful…
For most of us, the most pressing concern of prayer is the anticipated answer. Hindered by limited wisdom yet unhindered by boundless emotion and hope, we often want God to answer our prayers quickly and according to our perspective. God, however, initially responds to prayer requests in one of two ways. His answer is either yes or no,…
Divine peace comes from God and His Son, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:3). This peace is a tranquil harmony of heart and mind that maintains Christ-centered well-being regardless of circumstances or people. 1 Corinthians 1:3, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. At its foundation, this peace is a result…
I Am Christ’s Friend – November 26, 2011 Devotional from Days of Praise* Some things in Scripture are harder to understand and believe than others. Christ, the Sovereign Creator of all things, the offended Judge who declared the penalty for sin to be death, the One who willingly died to pay that penalty and redeem…
All of us have experienced trouble in our lives, and most of us have helped or tried to help others who were going through difficulties. When trouble comes—and it surely will—believers in Christ are to trust the perfect and completely sufficient Word of God and remember the never-failing promises of God that provide hope in…
If you believe in the afterlife, then you may believe in heaven. If so, do you know what the Bible says about how to get there? Many who believe the Bible know what God’s Word says is necessary for a person to go to heaven. Others who claim allegiance to the Bible, however, may add…
There seems to be an increasing demand for “free speech” world-wide. Proponents of self-centered free speech often clamor for unrestricted and unhindered verbal and printed communication as well as unrestrained and uncensored physical expressions in which ideas and beliefs can be presented. God’s Word, on the other hand, emphasizes the importance of Christ-honoring communication in…
Those who do not believe in Christ legitimize their refusal to forgive others for self-oriented reasons. Believers in Christ can also fail to forgive because of self- interest. Believers, however, primarily refuse to forgive biblically because they do not realize the magnitude of their forgiveness from the Lord. As a result, they do not fully…
Believers wholeheartedly committed to the Lord Jesus Christ realize the importance of dying to self in aspects of everyday life. For example, even when traveling from one place to another, a believer’s interaction with others should be characterized by dying to self in order to glorify God and demonstrate Christ’s love. In daily life, one…
Theoretical beliefs can be stated in “what you say,” but true beliefs are revealed in “what you do.” If you desire to grow in Christ, then an honest evaluation of what you truly believe can be made in the context of “words” and “actions.” See What Do You Believe … No, Really If you are a…